Automated Method of Pooling Elimination with a Biological Fluid Collection System

Abstract

A drainage and/or collection system for biological fluids includes at least one conduit for transporting a biological fluid from a catheter to a collector device and a gas pressure source configured to feed a gas into the at least one conduit between the catheter and the collection device. The gas causes the biological fluid arranged in the at least one conduit to drain into the collection device. A method includes inserting a catheter, draining a fluid into a collector device via a conduit, and introducing gas into the conduit so as to force fluid remaining in the conduit into the collection device.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A drainage or collection system for biological fluids, comprising:
 at least one conduit for transporting a biological fluid from a catheter to a collection device; and   an automated device programmable to automatically supply at least one gas pulse through the at least one conduit and into the collection device.   
     
     
         2 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the automated device comprises a programmable microprocessor coupled to control a gas source. 
     
     
         3 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the gas source comprises a vacuum pump. 
     
     
         4 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the automated device further comprises a pressure transducer structured and arranged to monitor the gas pressure of the at least one gas pulse. 
     
     
         5 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the automated device comprises a user interface to program at least one of gas pressure magnitude, gas pulse duration, and period between pulses. 
     
     
         6 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a valve located between the catheter and the container to prevent the at least one gas pulse from flowing toward the catheter. 
     
     
         7 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the automated device includes a gas pulse control or regulation device comprising a pressure transducer and a microprocessor. 
     
     
         8 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a transducer positionable at least partially beneath the collection device. 
     
     
         9 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein an output of the transducer is input to the automated device. 
     
     
         10 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the collection device comprises a filter and a closable filter cover. 
     
     
         11 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the collection device further comprises a drain tube extending from a bottom of the collection device, the drain tube having an end insertable into a fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the collection device further comprises a high level sensor coupled to the automated device. 
     
     
         13 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the collection device further comprises a low level sensor coupled to the automated device. 
     
     
         14 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the automated device comprises a signal conditioning circuit structured to receive at least one of bladder pressure and bladder temperature as an input. 
     
     
         15 . The drainage or collection system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the signal conditioning circuit is coupled to a gas source structured and arranged to generate the at least one gas pulse. 
     
     
         16 . A method for draining or collecting biological fluids, comprising:
 guiding biological fluid through at least one conduit from a catheter to a collection device; and   automatically supplying at least one gas pulse through the at least one conduit and into the collection device.   
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the at least one gas pulse forces biological fluids pooling in the at least one conduit into the collection device. 
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the at least one gas pulse forces biological fluids in the collector device out of the collection device. 
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising programming a microprocessor to control a gas source to generate the at least one gas pulse. 
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising inputting at least one of bladder pressure and bladder temperature into a signal conditioning circuit coupled to the gas source. 
     
     
         21 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising controlling or regulating a pressure magnitude of the at least one gas pulse. 
     
     
         22 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising monitoring a high level sensor of the collection device, and issuing an alert when the biological fluids reach the high level sensor.